The Texas State baseball team lost 8-6 against Rice University Feb. 20, at Reckling Park in Houston, Texas.
The Bobcats went up early on the home team, posting a 5-0 advantage after Jonathan Ortega, junior second baseman, connected on an RBI in the top of the sixth inning.
The Owls responded throughout the rest of the game, scoring five of their comeback runs in the eighth inning against the bullpen of the Bobcats.
Texas State’s starting pitcher for the night Zachary Leigh, sophomore right handed pitcher, got his first start of his collegiate career. He threw a near flawless game in his debut, giving up just one run on two hits to go along with three strikeouts. Leigh left the game with a 5-1 lead, but the bullpen allowed seven runs across the last three innings of the game.
The Bobcats saw consistent offense in this game from several key players. Ortega went 2-5 with three RBI’s and one run scored. Luke Sherley, senior shortstop, had a big game coming off a subpar opening season series against Oklahoma State. Sherley went 2-4 and combined with Jacob Almendarez, junior outfielder, to score three runs.
The Bobcats will return home for a three-game homestand against McNeese State University Feb. 23-25.